Technology of growing vegetable crop transplants at home

Indoor seedling technology: sowing and pricking out into small volumes

Growing high-quality seedlings indoors requires strict control of humidity, lighting, and air exchange. Early celery sowing begins with seed preparation and the use of meltwater, which naturally draws them to the required depth. Other crops are germinated in warmth near a radiator, after which the seedlings are moved to well-lit shelving.

1. Soak celery seed in water to remove essential oils, then dry them.
2. Place an even layer of snow 1 cm thick on the soil in the pot.
3. Spread the seed over the surface of the snow without covering it with soil.
4. Cover the container with glass or film and place it in a warm, bright spot near the radiator.
5. Water the sowings exclusively from below using a tray.

From January to March, young seedlings on windowsills must be supplemented with fluorescent lighting. Pricking out into trays is carried out upon the appearance of the first true leaf, where the plants develop for 2–3 weeks. During this time, the roots fully entwine the soil ball, which allows subsequent transfer into pots to occur without damaging the root system.

• Snow layer thickness for celery sowing — 1 cm
• Tray cell size — 3x3 cm
• Diameter of film tubes — 2–2.5 cm
• Length of film tubes — 5–6 cm
• Depth of furrows for cabbage — 7–8 cm
• Trimming of protective bag edges — 2–3 cm

In the absence of trays, tomato seedlings are grown in tubes made of polyethylene film, fastened with a stapler or a small nail. They are filled with a nutrient mixture and placed tightly against each other. In this technology, access of oxygen to the roots is critical. Without constant air inflow from below, the root system rots, and the development of the aerial part stops.

Further growth and hardening of seedlings before planting

From the second half of March, seedlings begin to be hardened in the open air. Any available containers are used for further growth: disposable cups, milk cartons, or cut plastic bottles. From mid- to late April, seedlings of heat-loving peppers and eggplants are moved into film hotbeds.

To ensure that potted plants in the hotbed do not become overgrown, they are spaced apart and slightly buried in the soil for stability. During this period, the soil mixture dries out quickly, so regular and abundant irrigation to the full depth of the container is required. Seedlings of early, cauliflower, and broccoli are grown entirely in the apartment and hardened in the open air. Tomatoes for mass planting dates are prepared partly by pricking out indoor seedlings into a film hotbed, and partly by direct sowing into the hotbed soil.

A film hotbed is also used for mid-season and late-season cabbage, which reliably protects the emergence from the cruciferous flea beetle. Accelerating cabbage growth is helped by the method of growing in furrows 7–8 cm deep under film, where the cover is removed as the seedlings develop, and the stems are hilled. For direct-sown tomatoes in open soil, cylinders made of plastic bottles or milk cartons without bottoms are used. The lower part of the bag is trimmed by 2–3 cm, the "flaps" are folded back, and covered with soil, creating a favorable microclimate inside the structure.

Resuscitation and hardening of purchased seedlings

Seedlings bought at the market often establish themselves very poorly in their permanent location. Most sellers grow them in greenhouses without regular ventilation and access to direct sunlight. As a result, the coddled plants experience severe stress when planted in open soil. To avoid losses, such seedlings must be pre-prepared.

1. Heel in the seedlings for a few days in partial shade on the plot or in flower boxes on the balcony.
2. Initially protect the plants from the sun, then gradually expose them to direct sunlight.
3. Be sure to feed the seedlings with a fertilizer solution at a hardening dose.
4. Plant in open soil after the leaves have toughened and new rootlets have appeared.

Biological characteristics of cucumber and environmental requirements

In the range of vegetable crops for protected ground, there are about 50 fruit, leafy, root, and onion crops, among which the cucumber remains one of the most popular. In addition to its taste qualities, it is valued for its dietary properties. Cucumber is rich in alkaline compounds, contains easily digestible iodine for the normalization of thyroid gland function, and the trace element silver. Its regular consumption improves the functioning of the stomach, kidneys, liver, and heart, and reduces carbohydrate accumulation.

As a native of the tropics of India, the cucumber is extremely demanding of heat. Seed germination begins at 12–13 °C; however, in such conditions, emergence is very slow and sparse. At temperatures below 15 °C, plant development is delayed; at 8–10 °C, they begin to develop disease, and at 3–4 °C, they die within 3–4 days. The crop does not tolerate frost at all, and seedlings are most sensitive to cold during the cotyledon stage.

• Optimal seed germination temperature — 25–30 °C
• Optimal temperature for growth — 25–27 °C
• Optimal flowering temperature — 18–21 °C
• Temperature during the fruiting period (day/night) — 30–32 °C / 20–22 °C
• Air and soil humidity — 85–95 %
• Optimal soil pH — 6.2–6.8

The cucumber root system is taproot, shallow, and has many branches. Due to the weak development and low suction force of the roots against the background of active moisture evaporation by the leaves, the crop requires constant high humidity. If there is a water deficit, fruit sets fall off, fruits become smaller, and begin to taste bitter. Loosening the soil around the plants must be done very carefully, trying not to damage the surface root system.

The length of the stem varies from 30 to 500 cm or more, depending on the cultivar. Branching of greenhouse hybrids depends on genetics and external conditions: shading, cold, and drought suppress the growth of side shoots. Cucumber flowers are unisexual, with male inflorescences of 5–7 pieces forming in the lower nodes earlier than female ones. Reducing the temperature, exposure to carbon monoxide, or shortening the daylight hours to 12 hours helps accelerate the appearance of female flowers and increase their number.

Selection of a cucumber hybrid based on greenhouse type and crop rotation

When selecting a range for protected ground, it is important to distinguish between parthenocarpic and bee-pollinated hybrids. In greenhouse production, parthenocarpic types are in greatest demand as they do not require the work of pollinating insects. When choosing specific first-generation (F1) hybrids, it is necessary to focus on their light requirements, ripening times, and the planned crop rotation.

The degree of parthenocarpy depends on the microclimate in the greenhouse. This trait is enhanced by short daylight hours, high light levels, increased concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and balanced nutrition. Partially parthenocarpic hybrids form fruit sets without pollination only when these optimal conditions are created.

Each crop rotation places specific demands on the biological characteristics of the plants. The planting dates, microclimate requirements, and potential yield for different types of greenhouses are systematized in the table.

Agronomic characteristics of promising F1 hybrids

Specialized hybrids with high productivity and resistance to major pathogens have been developed for various production conditions.

• Maximum yield in winter greenhouses — 50 kg/m²
• Time to the beginning of fruiting for spring hybrids — 40 days
• Weight of the gherkin of the Slobozhansky hybrid — 90–100 g
• Length of the gherkin of the Slobozhansky hybrid — 10–12 cm
• Yield of the F1 Talan hybrid — 27–32 kg/m²

In the group of parthenocarpic hybrids for the winter-spring period, the long-fruited F1 Shebelinsky hybrid stands out, with a yield potential of 30 kg/m². For spring film covers, the early-ripening short-fruited F1 Galit hybrid is suitable. Also promising are new hybrids of female and predominantly female flowering type with a gherkin length of up to 20 cm: Smuzhkovy, Mudrei, Znatok, and Vnuchok.

Among bee-pollinated hybrids for winter-spring cultivation, the medium-fruited F1 Talan hybrid is suitable, and for spring greenhouses — the short-fruited F1 Bazhany. In the winter-spring cycle, the short-fruited F1 Konstantny and F1 Slavny hybrids show high productivity, outperforming the F1 Estafeta standard in yield.

The short-fruited bee-pollinated hybrids F1 Ksana and F1 Slobozhansky (Rodnichok type) deserve special attention. These are early-ripening, predominantly female-flowering hybrids with a concentrated harvest. Their fruits are large-tuberculate, uniform, genetically free of bitterness, and perfectly suitable for pickling. They are highly resistant to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and root rots, and also tolerate drought and cold snaps well.

When choosing between these two hybrids, consider their individual characteristics:

• F1 Slobozhansky is distinguished by higher vigor and increased cold resistance. Its fruits are dark green, 10–12 cm long, and weigh 90–100 g. Suitable for sowing at earlier dates.
• F1 Ksana has a slightly lighter skin color of the gherkins, a compact bush, and possesses high plasticity to cultivation conditions.

The Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing has created a new cucumber hybrid, Suvenir, for spring greenhouses. It is early-ripening, bee-pollinated, predominantly female-flowering, and short-fruited. The gherkin yield is 20 kg per 1 m², with half of the harvest occurring in the first month of fruiting.

Breeders in Russia have achieved particular success in creating cucumber hybrids, where several breeding and seed-growing firms have been established based on the strong scientific potential of historical vegetable-growing centers, such as the V. I. Edelstein Vegetable Experimental Station of the TSHA (Mapul firm), the Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Economy (Parthenocarpin), and the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing (Semenovod).

The Mapul breeding and seed-growing firm has created new bee-pollinated cucumber hybrids for the winter-spring season: Kamchatka, Sakhalin (female flowering type), Ladoga, Severnoe Siyanie, TSHA-2693, TSHA-575 (female and predominantly female flowering types); Olimpiada, Estafeta, Mapul, Marathon, Karavella, Fregat, Taiga, etc. (predominantly female type); Gladiator, Hercules, Gornostay (pollinator hybrids, which must be planted at a rate of 10–15%).

For spring greenhouses, the Mapul firm has created a wide variety of short-fruited parthenocarpic hybrids.

If a high yield is required in a short period, "sprinter" hybrids are planted, yielding 9–16 kg per 1 m² in the first month of fruiting. These are F1 Regina-Plus, F1 Amur, F1 Buket. In these hybrids, few shortened shoots form on the main stem, appearing as bouquet-like branches and quickly ceasing their growth.

For prolonged fruiting, hybrids with significant lateral shoot branching are used. These hybrids are characterized by a valuable trait — self-regulation of branching. After harvesting on the main stem, lateral shoots begin to grow in parthenocarpic hybrids with good branching (F1 Buyan, F1 Anyuta, F1 Malchik-s-palchik, F1 Matreshka, F1 Maryina Roshcha, F1 Chistye Prudy) and in bee-pollinated ones (F1 Fermer, F1 Lord). These hybrids produce the highest yield due to the long fruiting period and are intended for heated and unheated spring greenhouses. Hybrids with moderate or limited branching may have many lateral shoots with shortened internodes. These are unique hybrids: F1 Muravey, F1 Kuznechik, F1 Mazay, F1 Kozyrnaya Karta. Fruiting lasts up to two months, and the yield is higher than that of non-branching or weakly branching hybrids. They are intended for unheated film greenhouses.

When choosing a hybrid, one should also consider the climatic factor. In conditions of overheating, which can occur in southern regions, weakly branching hybrids "burn out" quickly — they end fruiting. Therefore, heat-resistant cucumber hybrids with good branching (F1 Fermer, F1 Lord, F1 Matreshka, F1 Chistye Prudy, F1 Maryina Roshcha, etc.) perform better in these conditions.

In the conditions of the Kharkiv region, I have been successfully growing the following hybrids in a plastic greenhouse for several years now, avoiding overheating: E, Matreshka, E, Kuznechik, E, Chistye Prudy, E, Maryina Roshcha, E, Muravey.

All of them are versatile: suitable not only for fresh consumption but also for pickling. It is better to pickle cucumbers from the second half of July, in August, when their sugar content increases. The taste and texture of fresh cucumbers are magnificent. It is valuable that they can be grown in the same greenhouse with bee-pollinated ones, and upon pollination, unlike many parthenocarpic varieties, they do not lose their marketability. The "Parthenocarpin" company has created a number of high-tech parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids for various types of cultivation structures. These are long-fruited: E, NIIOKh-412, E, Sapfir, E, Aelita, E, Amazonka; medium- and short-fruited with a smooth surface: E, Stela, E, Serezha, E, Yuventa, E, Effekt, E, Vstrechny, etc.; medium- and short-fruited with a tubercular surface: E, Zolotoy Petushok, E, Korolek, E, Izumrud, E, Nastenka, E, Moskovsky Yubileyny, E, Elf, etc.

The Russian company "Gavrish" propagates cucumber hybrids created at the Dniester Research Institute of Agriculture, as well as those created jointly: r d, >29 m => 25

— parthenocarpic with glossy fruits for winter glass and heated plastic greenhouses: E, Stremya, E, Atlant, E, Tayfun, E, Sirius, E, Blik, etc.

— parthenocarpic with tubercular fruits for glass heated and unheated plastic greenhouses: E, Turnir, E, Regata, E, Parus, etc.;

— bee-pollinated for warmed soil and unheated plastic greenhouses: E, Kruiz, E, Foton, E, Rodnichok.

For the autumn season, a short-fruited parthenocarpic hybrid E, Voyazh, has been created, adapted to particularly unfavorable growing conditions, long-term storage, and transportation.

A number of bee-pollinated E cucumber hybrids of the intensive type for plastic greenhouses were created by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Growing: E! Zodiak, E, Kristall, E, Topolek, E, Nord, E, Kostik, E, Natali, E, Sancho.

The cucumber crop is managed in greenhouses equipped with air

— application of high doses of organic fertilizer, which optimizes the water-air regime (recommended soil mixtures for greenhouses are provided in the corresponding section);

— maintenance of an optimal microclimate that meets the biological requirements of the crop;

— strict adherence to cultivation agrotechnics taking into account cultivar characteristics;

— thorough disinfection of greenhouses, thermal soil sterilization is desirable;

— adherence to preventive and quarantine methods of disease and pest control Ya A u, m shch Winter-spring cucumber crop Seedling production. Before sowing, to activate enzymatic activity, calibrated and treated seeds are soaked for 12–16 hours at a temperature of 20 °C in a fertilizer solution (per 1 liter of water, 10 g of superphosphate, potassium nitrate, and 0.2 g each of manganese, zinc, and copper sulfates). Cucumber seeds are sown 35–45 days before planting. To accelerate emergence, seeds are germinated in seed boxes filled with moist sawdust at a temperature of 26–28 °C.

Sawdust of coniferous and deciduous trees is used; particle board sawdust and other materials containing phenols must not be used. The sawdust is pre-steamed in plastic tanks by pouring boiling water over it, adding potassium permanganate until a pink solution is formed for disinfection. The layer of sawdust in the boxes is 12–15 cm thick. In order to save electricity, the age of cucumber sprouts in the sawdust is increased to 7–8 days after the cotyledons unfold, and then they are pricked out. At this time, only a small area of the pricking-out boxes is illuminated. Fertilizers are not applied to the sawdust, as this does not contribute to the formation of a more powerful root system and better survival. Seeds are sown in sawdust to a depth of 1.5–2 cm. With shallower sowing, the seeds may not shed the seed coat. Seedlings are pricked out into nutrient pots at least 10x10 cm in size. At first, the pots are placed densely, and after two weeks they are spaced at 25–28 units per 1 m2.

From the beginning of the formation of cotyledonous leaves, the transplants are illuminated with DRLF-400 lamps mounted in an OT-400 illuminator. More effective and economical are high-pressure sodium lamps of the "Reflex" series. To prevent the transplants from stretching, the illumination must be at least 6 thousand lux. Upon emergence, 24-hour illumination is turned on for 2–3 days, which prevents the seedlings from stretching. Then, for 10–12 days, the duration of illumination is 16 hours (from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.), the following 10–12 days — 14 hours < 2 \ and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and then for 10–12 days — 12 hours (from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). For emergence, the best substrate temperature is 27–28 °C, subsequently 20–22 °C; air temperature at night — 17–19 °C, during the day — 24–26 °C.

The night temperature of the substrate is maintained depending on the hybrid type. With the appearance of the first true leaf, floral bud primordia develop, and sex expression in predominantly female hybrids depends on the level of night temperatures during the period of growing transplants. Thus, for hybrids E, Estafeta and E, Marathon, maintaining the night temperature at 17 °С until the appearance of 10 true leaves ensures female sex expression in almost all nodes up to the trellis. Hybrids of the female flowering type E, TSKhA-2693, E, Ladoga react to a lesser extent to sex shifting, and maintaining a higher temperature — 19 °С — promotes uniform growth of small cucumbers.